Power metadata transfer over power lines

ABSTRACT

The transfer and usage of a modulated carrier signal within a power signal on a power line communication system is described. The modulated signal comprises metadata which is transmitted at a different frequency than the transmitted power. The metadata, including such elements as energy costs, providers, renewable source status and originating location, may be used by consumers to make subsequent purchasing decisions. Additionally, the energy costs of any given computer node commonly distributed in a grid architecture may be collected by a workload dispatcher in order to make more accurate cost and energy source based dispatch decisions. The consumer may be able to communicate directly back to the power provider. The use of computer-readable medium and product containing instructions that are implemented on a computer is also covered. Finally, the invention may be deployed on behalf of the consumer by a third party service provider.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 12/203.379,filed Sep. 3, 2008.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the provision of broadband internetservice over power lines for use by consumers in making energy choices.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Currently known in certain geographical locations are options forconsumers to subscribe to “green energy”. The term ‘green energy’ hasbeen described as a source of energy which is considered to beenvironmentally friendly and non-polluting. Such a source may be solar,wind, biomass, or hydro energy. In many urban and rural areas withenergy choices, consumers have the ability to obtain electricity fromrenewable sources, albeit often for a higher cost based upon thematurity of related technologies. Many consumers would be interested inhaving more options for selecting green energy sources. Additionally,consumers may also wish to select power based on geopolitical data aboutthe provider and originating location for the energy source.

Power costs are a significant portion of the budget of an enterprise,especially for those managing data centers. Consumers are seeking waysto improve their profitability by reducing their power costs. It isevident that consumers such as industrial, residential, or commercial,lack reliable and up-to-date information about what is available to themin power markets at any given time. Currently, a consumer can only knowwhat the published rates are from a point prior to the current time,typically on a monthly cycle. The power industry is rapidly movingtowards a model that other industries, such as the stock market and fuelindustry, have achieved, which involves dynamically changing prices fora commonly used commodity. For such an environment, there is only onemethod known today which could be used to understand what the currentcost per unit of energy is for any specific location, and that would bepublishing the rates on web accessible internet or private intranetwhere authorized consumers could look up the cost of the suppliedenergy. This is an inefficient and limiting method which if implementedwould require an extreme amount of logistical coordination and updates.There exists, therefore, a need for a more efficient method ofpublishing data on cost, source, origination, etc. so that consumers canreliably and efficiently make energy consumption decisions.

Current means for dynamically communicating and selecting powerproviders based on costs and other criteria in a real-time manner arelimited. A retail electricity market exists when end-use consumers canchoose their supplier from competing electricity retailers. One termused for this type of consumer choice is ‘energy choice’. A separateissue for electricity markets is whether or not consumers receivereal-time pricing, that is, prices based on the variable wholesaleprice, or a price that is set in some other way, such as average annualcosts. In many markets, consumers do not pay based on the real-timeprice, and hence have no incentive to reduce demand at times of high,wholesale, prices or to shift their demand to other periods. Demandresponse may use pricing mechanisms or technical solutions to reducepeak demand. Generally, electricity retail reform follows fromelectricity wholesale reform. However, it is possible to have a singleelectricity generation company and still have retail competition. If awholesale price can be established at a node on the transmission gridand the electricity quantities at that node can be reconciled,competition for retail consumers within the distribution system beyondthe node is possible. In the German market, for example, large,vertically integrated utilities compete with one another for consumerson a more or less open grid.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

For purposes of the present invention, power line communication (PLC),is one of the terms used to describe several different systems thatexist for using electric power lines to carry information over powerline. This invention may utilize any known or future methods oftransmitting data over power lines, including medium and high frequencycommunication.

This invention relates to methods and systems for the transfer and usageof power metadata within the power signal itself. Metadata, includingsuch elements as cost, provider, renewable source status, originatinglocation, may be used by consumers to make subsequent purchasingdecisions. Additionally, the energy costs of any given computer nodecommonly distributed in a grid architecture can be collected by aworkload dispatcher in order to make more accurate cost and energysource based dispatch decisions. The steps of the invention compriseconverting the power rate information into the form of metadata. Then,the metadata is sent on the transmission route to an endpoint recipient.A signal decoder is then used to enable the recipient to read theinformation. The recipient can then respond back to the provider throughthe metadata transmission link, or through an independent loop.

The invention also relates to a computer-readable medium containinginstructions that are implemented on a computer for the transfer andusage of the metadata within the power signal.

In addition, the invention relates to a computer product including amedium on which a computer program is recorded, said computer programincluding:

-   A first set of instructions for converting the power rate    information into metadata;-   A second set of instructions for transmitting the metadata on the    transmission route to an endpoint recipient, such as an energy    provider or broker; and-   A third set of instructions for providing a signal decoder to enable    the recipient to read the information.

Finally, the invention relates to a method for deploying a serviceprovider to implement the operative steps of the present invention onbehalf of a consumer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features of this invention will be more readilyunderstood from the following detailed description of the variousaspects of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a flow diagram showing the key operative steps of the presentinvention; and

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary computerized systemand method for implementing the present invention.

The drawings are not intended to be drawn to scale. Instead, thedrawings are merely a schematic representation, not intended to portrayspecific parameters of the invention. The drawings are intended todepict only typical embodiments of the invention and, therefore, shouldnot be considered as limiting the scope of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

This invention discloses the sending of power metadata over the powersignal for dynamic cost calculation and provider selection. For purposesof the present invention, power is defined as an energy resource, suchas electricity used by businesses and individual consumers over a givenunit of time. All power line communication systems operate by impressinga modulated carrier signal on the wiring system. Different types ofpower line communications use different frequency bands, depending onthe signal transmission characteristics of the power wiring used.Low-frequency (about 100-200 kHz) carriers impressed on high-voltagetransmission lines may carry one or two analog voice circuits, ortelemetry and control circuits with an equivalent data rate of a fewhundred bits per second; however, these circuits may be many miles(kilometers) long. High frequency (6-80 MHz) has much higher data ratesin excess of 1 Gbits per second, but only over considerably shorterdistances.

The flow diagram of FIG. 1 shows a typical power supplier 10, such as anelectrical power plant, or an electric grid. The supplier has a need orwillingness to communicate power consumption costs or other informationto selected consumers or to all of its consumers. The supplier firstconverts, or arranges for the conversion, of such information tometadata at 20 using conversion equipment and software that iscustomarily used in the art. This metadata is transmitted to an end user30 where the metadata is converted into usable form, such as with adecoder at 40. Decoders for this purpose are readily available. Then,the information is viewed at 50 by the end user who may then transmit aresponse back to the power supplier either along the same line on whichthe metadata was conveyed to the end user, or along a separate line 60.Alternatively, the information may be viewed by a service provider 35who then communicates with the end user along line 80. Then either theservice provider 35 sends a response to the power supplier 10 along line70, or the end user transmits the response to the power supplier alongline 60.

The following lists some of the attributes of power that may be includedin such a transmission to the end user:

-   -   Cost of power;    -   Provider name and/or unique provider identifier;    -   Geographic source of generation (e.g., ABC plant in SampleTown,        N.Y.);    -   Geographic source(s) of raw materials (e.g., bituminous coal:        82% Pennsylvania origin, 18% West Virginia origin);    -   Methods used to generate, such as solar, wind turbine, renewable        sources, or coal;    -   Maximum amount available;    -   Duration of time the current rate will be available.        Note that, within the bounds of the present invention, some of        these fields and corresponding data values may be omitted and        others may be added as needed.

Advertisement of rates may be offered in a controlled manner, to preventexceeding provider capacity and also to offer preferential pricing.

This invention discloses metadata describing the power to be sent overthe power signal. It may utilize any known or future methods ofproviding data over a power line. It provides for an open forum whereany provider may post its power rates so long as that provider hasaccess to provide power on the grid in question, allowing largecorporations or other consumers to make choices.

With this grid, each consumer knows the cost/unit as it is using powerand amount available at that price point. This enables awareness ofpower cost and other attributes in a distributed environment. However,this may or may not reflect anything similar to today's web browsers.Instead, it may represent a “get data as needed” function for obtainingthe desired information.

Among the strategies for sending and receiving metadata over power linesare the following:

(1) Metadata describing the power itself is sent along the power line ata different frequency than the transmitted power. A device is placedinto each endpoint (home, business data center, etc.) that wishes to usethe metadata. This device measures the higher frequency signals whichare sent along with the power. In the preferred embodiment, the metadatasignal is sent constantly and can be read by the endpoint recipients atany given time, or constantly if so desired. Once the end pointrecipients read the data, actions can be taken as described below.

(2) Independent of whether a full internet connection is availablethrough the utility line, a news ticker-like flow of information wouldpresent the relevant fields to some form of software/hardware collectionpoint (e.g., workload dispatcher) on the consumer site. This crawlerwould present these fields for service providers available to theconsumer, updated periodically, at regular intervals so that consumercould choose accordingly.

(3) A microcosm of internet-like functionality could be provided, suchthat a hardware/software unit (e.g., workload dispatcher) could accessdata “as needed” in a look-up method analogous to today's http requests.

The concepts of high-speed communications are applied over the powergrid, to offer data minute-by-minute, or hour-by-hour power ratesbetween all providers. Similarly, consumers such as data centers,businesses or individuals, may then return over the same in-bandmechanisms, a response with their choice of energy provider.

Rates and other metadata may be provided in a continuous, repeatingstream or on set intervals.

Additionally, this invention considers the maximum capacity of a givenservice provider to ensure that the provider's capacity threshold is notexceeded. For example, if XYZ Energy suddenly advertises the cheapestrates, then everyone may rush to Acme Energy. Acme would obviously notbe able to meet all those needs. Thus, the necessity of an upperboundary is seen. Prenegotiated Quality of Service (QoS) contracts maydetermine which consumers are preferred and get first priority at thelower rates.

Rates may be advertised in a phased manner, as shown in the followingscenario:

first tier platinum consumers are offered the low rate for the firsthour; if capacity is still available, the next tier gold consumers areoffered the price for two hours; if capacity is still available, the lowprice is now opened up to all consumers.

Computerized Implementation

Referring now to FIG. 2, an exemplary computerized implementation 100 ofthe invention includes a computer 104 deployed within a computerinfrastructure 108 such as one existing at the information technologycenter of a business firm, a manufacturing company, or governmentalagency. The computer infrastructure 108 receives input from the powersupplier 10. The input is processed and is transmitted to one or moreend users (consumers) 50. The end user then has the ability to transmitdirectly to the power supplier 10 along route 60 (see FIG. 1), through aservice provider 35, or back through the computer infrastructure 108.

This FIG. 2 is intended to demonstrate, among other things, that thepresent invention could be implemented within a network environment(e.g., the Internet, a wide area network (WAN), a local area network(LAN), a virtual private network (VPN), etc.), or on a stand-alonecomputer.

In the case of the network environment, communication throughout thenetwork can occur via any combination of various types of communicationlinks. For example, the communication links can comprise addressableconnections that may utilize any combination of wired and/or wirelesstransmission methods.

As shown, a computer system 100 comprises a computer 104 within acomputer infrastructure 108. The computer 104 includes a processing unit112, a memory 116, a bus 120, and input/output (I/O) interfaces 124.Further, the computer 104 is shown in communication with external I/Odevices/resources 128 and storage system 132. In general, the processingunit 112 executes computer program code, such as the code to implementvarious components of the computer 104, which is stored in memory 116and/or storage system 132. It is to be appreciated that two or more,including all, of these components may be implemented as a singlecomponent.

While executing computer program code, the processing unit 112 can readand/or write data to/from the memory 116, the storage system 132, and/orthe I/O interfaces 124. The bus 120 provides a communication linkbetween each of the components in the computer 104. The external devices128 can comprise any devices (e.g., keyboard, pointing device, display,etc.) that enable a user to interact with the computer 104 and/or anydevices (e.g., network card, modem, etc.) that enable the computer 104to communicate with one or more other computing devices.

The computer infrastructure 108 is only illustrative of various types ofcomputer infrastructures for implementing the invention. For example, inone embodiment, computer infrastructure 108 comprises two or morecomputing devices (e.g., a server cluster) that communicate over anetwork to perform the various process steps of the invention. Moreover,the computer 104 is only representative of various possible computersthat can include numerous combinations of hardware.

To this extent, in other embodiments, the computer 104 can comprise anyspecific purpose-computing article of manufacture comprising hardwareand/or computer program code for performing specific functions, anycomputing article of manufacture that comprises a combination ofspecific purpose and general-purpose hardware/software, or the like. Ineach case, the program code and hardware can be created using standardprogramming and engineering techniques, respectively.

Moreover, the processing unit 112 may comprise a single processing unit,or be distributed across one or more processing units in one or morelocations, for example, on a client site or on a server. Similarly, thememory 116 and/or the storage system 132 can comprise any combination ofvarious types of data storage and/or transmission media that reside atone or more physical locations.

Further, I/O interfaces 124 can comprise any system for exchanginginformation with one or more of the external device 128. Still further,it is understood that one or more additional components (e.g., systemsoftware, math co-processing unit, etc.) not shown in FIG. 2 can beincluded in computer 104. However, if the computer 104 comprises ahandheld device or the like, it is understood that one or more of theexternal devices 128 (e.g., a display) and/or the storage system 132could be contained within the computer 100, not externally as shown.

The storage system 132 can be any type of system (e.g., a database)capable of providing storage for information under the presentinvention. To this extent, the storage system 132 could include one ormore storage devices, such as a magnetic disk drive or an optical diskdrive. In another embodiment, the storage system 132 includes datadistributed across, for example, a local area network (LAN), wide areanetwork (WAN) or a storage area network (SAN) (not shown). In addition,although not shown, additional components, such as cache memory,communication systems, system software, etc., may be incorporated intothe computer 104.

In the illustrated embodiment, the computer 104 communicates withexternal devices 128 such as an external system communicating with thecontroller 112 over a path which may be a wired bus 120 (as shown) orwireless.

While shown and described herein as a method and a system, it isunderstood that the invention further provides various alternativeembodiments. For example, in one embodiment, the invention provides acomputer-readable/useable medium that includes computer program code toenable a computer infrastructure to perform the process steps of theinvention. To this extent, the computer-readable/useable medium includesprogram code that implements each of the various process steps of theinvention.

It is understood that the terms “computer-readable medium” or “computeruseable medium” comprise one or more of any type of physical embodimentof the program code. The medium contains instructions for convertingpower-related information into a metadata format and transmitting themetadata over transmission route to be read by a recipient. Inparticular, the computer-readable/useable medium can comprise programcode embodied on one or more portable storage articles of manufacturesuch as a compact disc, a magnetic disk, or a tape. Alternatively, or inaddition, the code can be embodied on one or more data storage portionsof a computing device, such as the memory 116 and/or the storage system132 such as a fixed disk, a read-only memory, a random access memory, ora cache memory.

In another embodiment, the invention provides a business method thatperforms the process steps of the invention on a subscription,advertising, and/or fee basis. That is, a service provider 35 couldoffer to manage the computer 104 to convert power-related informationinto metadata and to transmit the data for use by an end user 35.Furthermore, wireless or wired transmission 70 occurs between theservice provider 35 and the power supplier 10. The metadata and/orinstructions and feed back are routed along 80 between the serviceprovider 35 and the end user 50. In this case, the service provider 35can create, maintain, and support a computer infrastructure, such as thecomputer infrastructure 108 that performs the process steps of theinvention for one or more consumers. In return, the service provider canreceive payment from the consumer(s) under a subscription and/or feeagreement and/or the service provider can receive payment from the saleof advertising content to one or more third parties.

In still another embodiment, the invention provides acomputer-implemented method for executing the computer 104. In thiscase, a computer infrastructure, such as computer infrastructure 108,can be provided and one or more systems for performing the process stepsof the invention can be obtained (e.g., created, purchased, used,modified, etc.) and deployed to the computer infrastructure. To thisextent, the deployment of a system can comprise one or more of: (1)installing program code on a computing device, such as computer system100, from a computer-readable medium; (2) adding one or more computingdevices to the computer infrastructure; and (3) incorporating and/ormodifying one or more existing systems of the computer infrastructure toenable the computer infrastructure to perform the process steps of theinvention.

As used herein, it is understood that the terms “program code” and“computer program code” are synonymous and mean any expression, in anylanguage, code or notation, of a set of instructions intended to cause acomputing device having an information processing capability to performa particular function either directly or after either or both of thefollowing: (a) conversion to another language, code or notation, and/or(b) reproduction in a different material form. To this extent, programcode can be embodied as one or more of: an application/software program,component software/a library of functions, an operating system, a basicI/O system/driver for a particular computing and/or I/O device, and thelike.

The foregoing description of various aspects of the invention has beenpresented for purposes of illustration and description. It is notintended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise formdisclosed and, obviously, many modifications and variations arepossible. Such modifications and variations that may be apparent to aperson skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scopeof the invention as defined by the accompanying claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system, comprising: a converter that convertspower information into metadata and sends the metadata over a powertransmission line with electricity transmitted over the powertransmission line to a plurality of different recipient customers of theelectricity, wherein the power information describes an offer durationtime period that a maximum amount of the electricity is available for acurrent rate cost of the electricity that is charged by a provideroffering the electricity; and a plurality of signal decoders that areeach accessible by the recipient customers and that collect the metadatafrom the power transmission line, decode the collected metadata into thepower information, and offer the electricity to each of the recipientcustomers of the electricity by: offering a first tier plurality of therecipient customers the maximum amount of the available electricity atthe current rate cost for a first time period that is less than andduring the offer duration time period; in response to determining that aremainder amount of the maximum amount of the available electricity isnot taken by the first tier customers and is still available afterexpiration of the first time period, offering a different, second tierplurality of the recipient customers the remainder amount of theavailable electricity at the current rate cost for another, second timeperiod that is during the offer duration time period and is less than atotal amount of time remaining in the offer duration time period afterthe expiration of the first time period; and in response to determiningthat another remainder amount of the maximum amount of the availableelectricity is not taken by the first or second tier customers and isstill available after expiration of the second time period, offering theanother remainder amount of the available electricity at the currentrate cost to a remainder of the plurality of the recipient customersthat are not within the first or second tier plurality of customers fora remainder of the offer duration time period after the expiration ofthe second time period.
 2. The system according to claim 1, wherein theconverter modulates the metadata into a carrier frequency that isdifferent than a carrier frequency of the electricity transmitted overthe power transmission line.
 3. The system according to claim 2, whereinsaid power information further comprises: a geographic location of aplant source of generation of the electricity; a method used by theplant source to generate the electricity; and a geographic source of rawmaterials if the raw materials are used by the method used by the plantsource to generate the electricity.
 4. The system according to claim 3,wherein the power information further comprises information that themethod used by the plant source to generate the electricity is selectedfrom a plurality of methods comprising solar, wind turbine, renewablesources and coal methods.
 5. A method for transmitting power informationbetween a power supplier and a recipient, the method comprising:converting power information into metadata, wherein the powerinformation describes an offer duration time period that a maximumamount of electricity is available for a current rate cost of theelectricity that is charged by a provider offering the electricity;sending the metadata over a power transmission line with the electricityto a plurality of different endpoint recipient customers of theelectricity; collecting the metadata from the power transmission line;decoding the collected metadata into the power information; and offeringthe electricity to each of the recipient customers of the electricityby: offering a first tier plurality of the recipient customers themaximum amount of the available electricity at the current rate cost fora first time period that is less than and during the offer duration timeperiod; in response to determining that a remainder amount of themaximum amount of the available electricity is not taken by the firsttier customers and is still available after expiration of the first timeperiod, offering a different, second tier plurality of the recipientcustomers the remainder amount of the electricity at the current ratecost for another, second time period that is during the offer durationtime period and is less than a total amount of time remaining in theoffer duration time period after the expiration of the first timeperiod; and in response to determining that another remainder amount ofthe maximum amount of the available electricity is not taken by thefirst or second tier customers and is still available after expirationof the second time period, offering the another remainder amount of theavailable electricity at the current rate cost to a remainder of theplurality of the recipient customers that are not within the first orsecond tier plurality of customers for a remainder of the offer durationtime period after the expiration of the second time period.
 6. Themethod according to claim 5, wherein the metadata is sent on the powertransmission line at a frequency that is different than a frequency ofthe electricity transmitted over the power transmission line.
 7. Themethod according to claim 6, wherein said power information furthercomprises: a geographic location of a plant source of generation of theelectricity; a method used by the plant source to generate theelectricity; and a geographic source of raw materials if the rawmaterials are used by the method used by the plant source to generatethe electricity.
 8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the powerinformation further comprises information that the method used by theplant source to generate the electricity is selected from a plurality ofmethods comprising solar, wind turbine, renewable sources and coalmethods.
 9. The method according to claim 5 wherein the metadata isdelivered by a service provider whereby the data is available forviewing by a consumer.
 10. The method according to claim 9 furtherwherein the consumer responds through the service provider to the powersupplier.
 11. An article of manufacture, comprising: a tangible computerreadable tangible storage device having computer readable program codeembodied therewith, the computer readable program code comprisinginstructions that, when executed on a computer system processing unit,cause the processing unit to: convert power information into metadata,wherein the power information describes an offer duration time periodthat a maximum amount of electricity is available for a current ratecost of the electricity that is charged by a provider offering theelectricity; transmit the metadata over a power transmission line withthe electricity to a plurality of different endpoint recipient customersof the electricity; and offer the electricity to each of the recipientcustomers of the electricity by: offering a first tier plurality of therecipient customers the maximum amount of the available electricity atthe current rate cost for a first time period that is less than andduring the offer duration time period; in response to determining that aremainder amount of the maximum amount of the available electricity isnot taken by the first tier customers and is still available afterexpiration of the first time period, offering a different, second tierplurality of the recipient customers the remainder amount of theelectricity at the current rate cost for another, second time periodthat is during the offer duration time period and is less than a totalamount of time remaining in the offer duration time period after theexpiration of the first time period; and in response to determining thatanother remainder amount of the maximum amount of the availableelectricity is not taken by the first or second tier customers and isstill available after expiration of the second time period, offering theanother remainder amount of the available electricity at the currentrate cost to a remainder of the plurality of the recipient customersthat are not within the first or second tier plurality of customers fora remainder of the offer duration time period after the expiration ofthe second time period.
 12. The article of manufacture according toclaim 11, wherein the computer readable program code instructions, whenexecuted by the processing unit, further cause the processing unit tomodulate the metadata into a carrier frequency on the power transmissionline wherein the metadata carrier frequency is different than a carrierfrequency of the electricity transmitted over the power transmissionline.
 13. The article of manufacture according to claim 11, wherein saidpower information further comprises: a geographic location of a plantsource of generation of the electricity; a method used by the plantsource to generate the electricity; and a geographic source of rawmaterials if the raw materials are used by the method used by the plantsource to generate the electricity.
 14. The article of manufactureaccording to claim 13, wherein the power information further comprisesinformation that the method used by the plant source to generate theelectricity is selected from a plurality of methods comprising solar,wind turbine, renewable sources and coal methods.
 15. A system,comprising: a processing unit, a computer readable memory and a tangiblecomputer-readable device wherein the processing unit, when executingprogram instructions stored on the tangible computer-readable storagedevice via the computer readable memory: converts the power informationinto metadata, wherein the power information describes an offer durationtime period that a maximum amount of electricity is available for acurrent rate cost of the electricity that is charged by a provideroffering the electricity; transmits the metadata over a powertransmission line with the electricity to a plurality of differentendpoint recipient customers of the electricity, wherein the powerinformation describes a current rate cost of the electricity that ischarged by a provider offering the electricity to the endpointrecipients; and offers the electricity to each of the recipientcustomers of the electricity by: offering a first tier plurality of therecipient customers the maximum amount of the available electricity atthe current rate cost for a first time period that is less than andduring the offer duration time period; in response to determining that aremainder amount of the maximum amount of the available electricity isnot taken by the first tier customers and is still available afterexpiration of the first time period, offering a different, second tierplurality of the recipient customers the remainder amount of theelectricity at the current rate cost for another, second time periodthat is during the offer duration time period and is less than a totalamount of time remaining in the offer duration time period after theexpiration of the first time period; and in response to determining thatanother remainder amount of the maximum amount of the availableelectricity is not taken by the first or second tier customers and isstill available after expiration of the second time period, offering theanother remainder amount of the available electricity at the currentrate cost to a remainder of the plurality of the recipient customersthat are not within the first or second tier plurality of customers fora remainder of the offer duration time period after the expiration ofthe second time period.
 16. The system according to claim 15, whereinthe processing unit, when executing the program instructions stored onthe computer-readable storage device via the computer readable memory,further modulates the metadata into a carrier frequency on the powertransmission line wherein the metadata carrier frequency that isdifferent than a carrier frequency of the electricity transmitted overthe power transmission line.
 17. The system according to claim 16,wherein said power information further comprises: a geographic locationof a plant source of generation of the electricity; a method used by theplant source to generate the electricity; and a geographic source of rawmaterials if the raw materials are used by the method used by the plantsource to generate the electricity.
 18. The system according to claim17, wherein the power information further comprises information that themethod used by the plant source to generate the electricity is selectedfrom a plurality of methods comprising solar, wind turbine, renewablesources and coal methods.